HelStone

1
How to write a thesis statement
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
2
Share
Every paper you write should have a main point, a
main idea, or a central message. The central
argument you provide in your paper must reflect
this very main idea. The sentence to capture
your position/point on this main concept is what
we call a thesis statement - a fundamental
element of nearly any type of paper, apart from,
possibly, creative writing. First, lets get one
thing out of the way. A thesis statement is not
always the last sentence in the first
paragraph! Often it is, but sometimes it isnt.
So, just pointing to the last sentence of the
introductory paragraph is not a surefire way to
identify a thesis statement.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
3
Share
CHAPTER 1
What is a thesis statement
This part of your paper should clearly identify
an argument. You need to have a statement that
is not only easy to understand, but one that is
debatable. That means that you cant just put
any statement of fact and have it as your thesis
it is obligatory to come up with an
argumentative/debatable topic!
WHY MUST YOUR ESSAY CONTAIN A THESIS
STATEMENT? To condense your argument To test
ideas by clarifying them into a sentence or two
To better organize your argument To give your
readers a guide to your argument.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
4
Share
SO, WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT? It is usually a
single sentence at the end (but not always) of
your first paragraph that presents your argument
to the reader, and explains a central claim
youll discuss and prove in each of the following
paragraphs. The rest of the paper, the body of
the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that
will persuade the reader of the logic of your
interpretation.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
5
Share
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A THESIS AND A THESIS
STATEMENT
The thesis is the point your paper is trying to
prove. Here are some essential points to keep in
mind about the thesis, starting with a
definition. Thesis is known as the claim or
argument. Everything in a persuasive essay
relates to the thesis, either as evidence,
explanation, elaboration or rebuttal of
alternative claims. Think of the thesis as the
spine of your paper. Just as all the parts of
your body are connected to the spine, and
without the spine your body could not stand, so
too in your essay all parts must be connected to
the thesis, and without the thesis the essay
cannot stand. Parts that are not connected must
be revised so that they do connect, or else
eliminated. A thesis, in other words, is not the
same as the thesis statement, which is a
sentence or two in your introductory part that
tells the reader(s) what the thesis is. The
thesis is not limited to one spot in your essay
it runs through the whole thing, from start to
finish.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
6
Share
WHAT MAKES A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT
The thesis statement is the road map of your
paper, directing you as you write it and guiding
the reader through it. So the map is good if
it is clear and its road is good if the
grounds are strong. Thus, your statement is
strong if Its brief and informative. It
presents a clear argument with your opinion on
the issue or a side of the issue youll
support. It has a logical basis. Even if sharing
your personal opinion, make sure to back it up
with logic or facts.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
7
Share
DOS AND DONTS OF A THESIS
DO Know your essays type. Make a statement.
Make a debatable claim. Be specific.
DONT Announce the thesis, e.g. This paper
will discuss. Announce yourself, e.g. I am
going to prove that. Ask a question.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
8
Share
Even in a personal essay that allows the use of
the first person, your thesis should not contain
phrases such as in my opinion or I believe.
These statements reduce your credibility and
weaken your argument. Your opinion is more
convincing when you use a firm attitude.
TIP
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
9
Share
CHAPTER 2How long is a thesis statement
A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or
two sentences. In words - a range can be
anywhere between 20-50 words depending on your
topic. However, in some cases (e.g. a very
in-depth or detailed paper) it may be appropriate
to introduce a longer thesis statement. You
should ask your professor for their advice if you
think you need to use a longer thesis
statement. The main point to keep in mind - this
part should present the topic of your paper and
also make a comment about your position in
relation to the topic. Your thesis statement
should tell your reader what the paper is about
and also help guide your writing and keep your
argument focused. The best rule to stick to - If
you can say more using less, do it.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
10
Share
CHAPTER 3How to organize your research paper
draft
This part of your paper is the claim you are
about to make in, the point you strive to
convince your reader of. It must be reasonably
debatable and should distinctly convey your
position on a subject.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
11
Share
SO, WELL START HERE WITH WHAT NOT TO DO
Dont make your thesis too factual.
Bostons Government Center is built on the site
of old Scollay Square. The above statement is
true. There is nothing debatable about it. You
have left yourself nothing to prove.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
12
Share
Dont make your thesis too broad.
Due to suburban sprawl, the American suburb is
actually bad for people.
While this point is debatable, you could write an
entire book on this topic (in fact, many people
have). Attempt to narrow your subject matter down
to something that can be easily handled in a
short paper. Its generally better to say more
about less, and in the end, a tighter focus will
make it easier on both you and the reader
Due to suburban sprawl, the American suburb is
actually bad for people.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
13
Share
Dont make your thesis too vague.
Many modern buildings are ugly.
While this point is debatable as well, the
language is far too abstract and unclear. Try to
improve on statements like this by providing
more concrete ideas
A cement monstrosity such as Boston City Hall,
while well-intentioned, is a destructive force
on the architecture landscape, and negatively
affects a large section of downtown Boston.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
14
Share
What TO do/use for a strong thesis statement
Specificity. A casual layout (working framework)
is a thing helping a creator put down and sort
out their thoughts. With the help of a
framework,a student can add content to your paper
without worrying much about the structure. It
encourages a creator to concentrate on key topics
and deliver an accurate sophisticated
paper. Informativeness. Even if your
assignment does not ask a question, you will
still need to answer a question about the issue
you would like to explore.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
15
Share
Ability to be argued.
Choose a subject that people could disagree on. A
thesis statement must present a relevant and
specific argument. A factual statement often is
not considered arguable. Be sure your thesis
statement contains a point of view that can be
supported with evidence.
Precision. Express one main idea. A good thesis
statement should be specific and precise enough
to allow for a coherent argument and to remain
focused on the topic. Only discuss what will be
covered in your paper and supported with
evidence.
Confidence. Provide your own conclusions about
the topic. Use confidence in your claim to
persuade your readers to have faith in your
argument.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
16
Share
Types of thesis statements
Argumentative Thesis Statement Making a Claim An
argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic,
defends and justifies this claim with specific
evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy
proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect
statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the
argumentative paper is to convince the audience
that the claim is true based on the evidence
provided. Example thesis statement High school
graduates should be required to take a year off
to pursue community service projects before
entering college in order to increase their
maturity and global awareness.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
17
Share
Analytical Thesis Statement Analyzing an Issue
An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an
idea into its component parts, evaluates the
issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and
evaluation to the audience. Analytical essays
provide an analysis of an issue or issues,
breaking them down into their individual parts
and presenting that analysis to the reader.
Heres an example of the kind of assignment that
would prompt you to write an analytical paper
Example thesis statement Shaped by religious
tradition and belief the supremacy of Western
culture, 20th century United States foreign
policy has reinforced racism against the Middle
East.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
18
Share
Expository Thesis Statement Explaining a Topic
An expository (explanatory) paper presents facts
and research on a subject, explains something to
the audience. This type of essay will ask you to
explain why one thing leads to another.
Alternately, it may ask you to compare and
contrast two or more elements, explain how they
interact with each other and have you take a
position on that interaction.
Example thesis statement The life of the typical
college student is characterized by time spent
studying, attending class, and socializing with
peers.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
19
Share
Sub-Types
Open Thesis Statement A thesis that tells the
reader only your position on a topic
Example Boston is a better city than New
York. Advantages You can hook the readers
attention and get him/her to read on.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
20
Share
Closed Thesis Statement A thesis that tells the
reader both your position and the reasons you
feel that way.
Example Due to its more intimate size, European
architecture, and historical significance,
Boston is a far more interesting place to live
than New York. Advantages Much more specific.
Lays out the structure of your paper by listing
your main points. Be aware that you have now
told the reader These are my three points and
this is the order I intend to present them. You
have committed to a structure. So dont confuse
the reader by starting with historical
significance. Make sure you follow the path you
have laid out. There is no simple rule to follow
as for when you should use an open vs. a closed
thesis. One rule of thumb is to keep in mind the
complexity of your topic. A more complex subject
may require a more sophisticated kind of thesis
statement.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
21
Share
CHAPTER 4
Thesis statement examples
Remember that a thesis is not the topic itself,
but rather your interpretation of the question
or subject. For whatever topic your professor
gives you, you must ask yourself, What do I want
to say about it? Asking and then answering this
question is vital to forming a thesis that is
precise, thoughtful and specific, states one idea.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
22
Share
Thoughtful and specific
Your history professor assigns a five-page paper
in which you must analyze why the North and
South fought the Civil War. What would a good
thesis statement look like? Bad - The North and
South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some
of which were the same and some different. This
statement is too general and simply rephrases the
prompt. It does not answer how or why their
reasons differed. Better - While both sides
fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery,
the North fought for moral reasons while the
South fought to preserve its own
institutions. This sentence offers a more
specific and debatable answer. However, it is
still too broad and insupportable. You cannot
defend a claim of morality in five pages, and
good research would probably not lead you to
this conclusion. Best - While both Northerners
and Southerners believed they fought against
tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on
the oppression of slaves while Southerners
defended their own right to self-government. This
statement is specific, clear and thoughtful.
Though some might disagree with your stance,
your readers will know what to expect in your
paper. Now its up to you to defend your thesis
with good evidence and persuasive writing!
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
23
Share
States one main idea
If the paper has more than one main idea the
reader might be confused about the papers
subject. Bad - Companies should maximize the
marketing potential of the Internet, and
Facebook pages can provide both advertising and
customer support. This is a weak thesis statement
because the reader cant decide whether the paper
is about marketing on the Internet or Facebook
pages. Better / Strong - Because the Internet
is filled with an abundance of marketing
potential, companies should exploit this
potential by using Facebook pages that offer
both advertising and customer support. This is a
strong thesis because the two ideas are related
to each other to make one main idea.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
24
Share
Frequently asked questions about writing a
thesis statement
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
25
Share
CAN A THESIS STATEMENT BE A QUESTION?
A thesis states your position on your topic. A
question cannot state anything because it is not
a statement. Because the thesis statement is the
overarching conclusion your paper will lead to
or defend, it is not written in the form of a
question. A question is a great lead into a
thesis, but it cant be the thesis.
WHERE DOES THE THESIS STATEMENT GO? You should
provide a thesis early in your essay - in the
introduction, or in longer essays in the second
paragraph - in order to establish your position
and give your reader a sense of direction.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM
26
Share
CAN A THESIS STATEMENT BE TWO SENTENCES?
The answer is - Yes! In most cases a thesis
statement will be one sentence, but for more
complex subjects, one may find it more effective
to break the thesis statement into two sentences.
SHOULD YOU USE A THESIS STATEMENT GENERATOR? To
formulate originality and uniqueness of your
thought, you do not have to spend hours/days
drafting the thesis and then rewriting it times
and times. This difficulty can be perfectly
handled with the help of the generator. Students
find that using a thesis generator for research
paper general areas can actually give them great
ideas for topics. You will generate the thesis
statements until you get the result that seems
acceptable to you. An additional perk of our free
generator is that it will also provide an outline
for a generated thesis. And this will give you a
perfect road map for your research and writing.
ESSAYTOOLBOX.COM